Q: Would you please tell about the significance of APPF-26 to Vietnam, especially in the context of deeper international integration at present?

A: Vietnam was appointed as the Chair of the APPF for the 2017-2018 tenure and the host of the 26th annual meeting, which affirmed the role and prestige of the Vietnamese NA in parliamentary diplomatic events in the region and the world.

This is a follow-up to the success of the 132nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) held in March, 2015. The multilateral diplomacy event in early 2018 is among the activities to positively implement the 12th National Party Congress’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of international relationships and active international integration, thus increasing the country’s prestige and position within the region and the world.

The APPF-26 meeting is an important milestone in the foreign affairs of the 14th Vietnamese NA, contributing to the success of the nation’s external relations as well as confirming the country’s role and responsibility in APPF. This is also an opportunity for the Vietnamese parliament to further strengthen its bilateral diplomatic relations with other countries and strongly convey the image of an innovative, dynamic, active and responsible parliament to international friends.

In addition, APPF-26 is considered as a driving force to promote the role of parliaments in the APEC’s activities as well as promoting the results of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in terms of parliament. The Vietnamese NA will submit the Hanoi Declaration on a New Vision for Asia – Pacific Parliamentary Partnership to the meeting, identifying focal points during the next development of the APPF.

The event will also create a close link between the APPF and APEC to support APEC member countries to fulfill their commitments in the Da Nang Declaration: “Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future”. Vietnam’s ideas and initiatives were acknowledged and highly appreciated by international friends, affirming the country’s bravery and wisdom in the process of deep international integration. Through the organisation of major international events, Vietnam’s image and prestige has been increasingly enhanced.

The meeting will also widely inform both domestic people and international friends of the Vietnamese NA and its external activities as the host country of the APPF-26.

Q: Being the Chairwoman of the Vietnamese NA – the host of the APPF-26, which message would you want to convey when welcoming international guests from Asia-Pacific Parliaments?

A: Being Chairwoman of the Vietnamese NA, the Chair of the APPF-26, I am very honoured and pleased to welcome the members of parliaments (MPs) from Asia-Pacific countries to Hanoi – Vietnam’s beautiful and peaceful capital.

The organisation of this event, along with other major external activities, will convey a message on a peaceful, stable and developed country; an innovative, creative and integrative parliament; and friendly and open-minded people. Vietnam is always interested in the world’s development and committed to working with the international community to achieve common goals for sustainable development.

The Vietnamese parliament is always interested in the overall development of parliamentary diplomacy and joins the orientation for the development of the regional and international parliamentary forums in the new context; as well as wishing to increase the APPF’s role and position, contributing to enhancing Asia-Pacific cooperation in the fields of politics, security, economy, trade and development.

We look forward to welcoming MPs from the Asia-Pacific region to attend the APPF-26. I hope that the guests will have a great time in Vietnam – the country with dynamic and friendly people, an advanced culture imbued with national identities and beautiful nature.